CA1329973C - Inflatable vault having a multilobed double wall - Google Patents
Inflatable vault having a multilobed double wallInfo
- Publication number
- CA1329973C CA1329973C CA000580006A CA580006A CA1329973C CA 1329973 C CA1329973 C CA 1329973C CA 000580006 A CA000580006 A CA 000580006A CA 580006 A CA580006 A CA 580006A CA 1329973 C CA1329973 C CA 1329973C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- beams
- vault
- inflatable
- panels
- recited
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
- E04H15/20—Tents or canopies, in general inflatable, e.g. shaped, strengthened or supported by fluid pressure
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
- E04H15/32—Parts, components, construction details, accessories, interior equipment, specially adapted for tents, e.g. guy-line equipment, skirts, thresholds
- E04H15/64—Tent or canopy cover fastenings
- E04H15/642—Tent or canopy cover fastenings with covers held by elongated fixing members locking in longitudinal recesses of a frame
- E04H15/644—Tent or canopy cover fastenings with covers held by elongated fixing members locking in longitudinal recesses of a frame the fixing members being a beading
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
- E04H15/20—Tents or canopies, in general inflatable, e.g. shaped, strengthened or supported by fluid pressure
- E04H2015/202—Tents or canopies, in general inflatable, e.g. shaped, strengthened or supported by fluid pressure with inflatable panels, without inflatable tubular framework
- E04H2015/204—Tents or canopies, in general inflatable, e.g. shaped, strengthened or supported by fluid pressure with inflatable panels, without inflatable tubular framework made from contiguous inflatable tubes
Abstract
TECHNIP GEOPRODUCTION.
Inflatable vault having a multilobed double wall.
Abstract The object of the invention is an inflatable vault having a multilobed double wall, adapted to be opened out and retracted, and confining a layer of intermural air under pressure, characterized in that said vault is ob-tained by assembling side by side a plurality of separate inflatable hollow beams (A, B, C...), each of which is composed of a flexible envelope incorporating means (11) ensuring the continuity of the leaktightness of the space (S) confined by it and comprising principally at least two longitudinal panels (1, 2) whose surfaces are sequent along at least two longitudinal edges at which said panels are not only joined to one another but also joined to the homologous panels of the adjacent beams, with the aid of discontinuous mechanical means for rapid connection.
The inflatable vault according to the invention is particularly applicable to the covering of stadiums, swimming pools, tennis courts, restaurents, auditoriums, storage hangars of large dimensions, etc.
Figure 1.
Inflatable vault having a multilobed double wall.
Abstract The object of the invention is an inflatable vault having a multilobed double wall, adapted to be opened out and retracted, and confining a layer of intermural air under pressure, characterized in that said vault is ob-tained by assembling side by side a plurality of separate inflatable hollow beams (A, B, C...), each of which is composed of a flexible envelope incorporating means (11) ensuring the continuity of the leaktightness of the space (S) confined by it and comprising principally at least two longitudinal panels (1, 2) whose surfaces are sequent along at least two longitudinal edges at which said panels are not only joined to one another but also joined to the homologous panels of the adjacent beams, with the aid of discontinuous mechanical means for rapid connection.
The inflatable vault according to the invention is particularly applicable to the covering of stadiums, swimming pools, tennis courts, restaurents, auditoriums, storage hangars of large dimensions, etc.
Figure 1.
Description
132~7.3 The present invention relates to an inflatab~e vault having a flexible mult;lobed double wall, in which ~ only the air space situated between the two walls is pressur;zed, the area covered by it rema;n;ng at ambient pressure. Amongst other aimsr this vault is designed to enable it to be opened out by simple inflation, and also to be collapsed by deflation, ~hus making it possible to cover over an area at will in order to protect it from bad weather and to uncover it when the weather is fine.
A vault of this kind can be used for the temporary covering of instaLlations of large dimensions, such as stadiums with the stands intended for spectators. In this case it constitutes an enormous area of fabric, weighing from fifty to one hundred tonnes, which it is impossible to produce in the factory, transport and install as a single completely finished unit. On the other hand, if the vault is composed of a plurality of elements, it is advisable on the one hand for these elements to be com-pletely finished and tested at the factory, particularly for the purpose of checking their leaktightness~ and on the other hand for these elements to be easily and quickly assembled together, without requiring expensive site equipment.
Vaults of this type are already known which can be Z5 opened out and collapsed by simple inflation and defla-tion and in which only the space betweer, the two ~alls is pressurized, such as those described in particular in the patents FR-A-2 166 397 and FR-A-2 326 544.
The patent FR-A-2 166 397 relates to an inflatable structure comprising a series of inflatable bo%es which bear against one another when they are inflated, and which are placed between two sheets, to which they are fixed and which are tensioned by the boxes when the struc-ture is inflated. ~ecause of the design of this struc-ture, it cannot be used for constructions of large dimen-sions, which is one of the aims which the present inven-tion seeks to achieve.
The patent FR-A-2 326 544 relates to a flexible ,.
,, - 2 _ 1329~73 inflatable structure consisting of a bay whirh has at least two walls, is adapted to be opened out and to be - folded up or collapsed, and is composed of a succession of of contiguous flattenable, pressurizable chambers whose ~ 5 dividing walls brace the outer and inner walls, and where applicable the middle walls, of said bay. The numerous elements of which the vault is composed are therefore simple elementary panels of lealctight fabric, which have to be joined on the site to make continuous joints which are both resistant and leaktight over great lengths, so that very accurate manufacturing tolerances and also considerable, deLicate assembly work on the site are required, and thus there is no assurance of complete reliability of the resulting product.
Moreover, in these two documents the inflation means enabling an enormous amount of air to be blown in under light pressure between the two walls, in order to open out a vault of large dimensions within a sufficient-ly short period of time to be of practical interest~ are not described.
The present invention therefore seeks to provide a vault produced by the assembly of a plurality of entirely prefabricated inflatable beams, which have been tested at the factory, these beams being of slight mass~ easily foldable into packages able to be easily transported on lorries, and which can also be assembled on the site in the flat state on the ground ~ith primitive but reliable means which can be used quickly, even by only slightly skilled labour, and without using either lifting means or scaffolding.
The present invention also seeks to provide a vault which, although subdivided into numerous elements, incorp-orates pressurization means whose geometry is variable and which have a large section, thus permitting rapid infla-tion and opening out.
The present invention therefore has as its objectan inflatable vault which has a multilobed double wall, is adapted to be opened out and to be collapsed, and confines , 1329~73 a layer of intermural air under pressure, characterized in that it is obtained by assembling side by side a plurality of separate ;nflatable hollow beams, each of which is com-posed of a flexible envelope incorporating means ensuring S the continuity of the leaktightness of the space confined by it and comprising principally at least two longitudinal panels, whose surfaces are sequent along at least two longitudinal edges at which said panels are not only joined to one another but also joined to the homologous panels of the adjacent beams, with the aid of discontinu-ous mechanical means for rapid connection.
According to another characteristic of the inven-tion, the discontinuous mechanical means for the rapid connection of the infLatable beams to one another comprise on the one hand a series of flaps extending said panels along at least one of their longitudinal edges, each flap being equipped with a bead bordering its free end, and on the other hand a plurality of sectional members provided with at most as many longitudinal slots as there are panels to be jo;ned, said sectional members being inserted one behind the other, simultaneously from one end to the other of each of said flaps which are to be joined to-gether.
According to yet another characteristic of the in-25 vention~ the means ensuring the continuity of the leak- ~`~
t;ghtness of the space confined by the flexible envelope of said beams are leaktight membranes longitudinally con-necting together the inner faces of the two adjacent panels of each beam, on each side of their common connect-}0 ing edge.
Another object of the invention is a method of utilizing the inflatable vault, characterized in that the vault is constructed by a first operation consisting in assembling together, ~ith the aid of the rapid connection means, the panels of the plurality of deflated beams, laid flat one over the other, and by a second operation com-prising the opening out, inflation and rigidification by separately pressurizing each beam one after the other by .
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~ 4 deflating the leaktight temporary closure means which open the confined internal space to the pressurized fluid supply duct, the opening out of the vault being maintained by the inflation of the leaktight means for closing the confined internal space.
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention there is provided an inflatable vault comprising:
a collapsible cover member including a plurality of elongated inflatable arch-shaped beams connected sequentially and contiguously alony longitudinal sides thereof; two guide tracks ~isposed perpendicular to said longitudinal sides of said beams and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of said beams so as to be positioned at respectively opposing ends of said cover member; and guide means, connected to each longitudinal end of said cover member, for slidably mounting said cover member to said two guide tracks to move therealong.
In accordance with a further particular embodiment of the invention there is provided an inflatable vault comprising: a plurality of contiguous individually inflat-able leaktight hollow beams, each hollow beam including at least two longitudinal elongated panels connected together for mutually connecting the longitudinal edges of each respective pair of neighboring longitudinal edges of said panels and for connecting each said pair of neighboring edges to a corresponding pair of neighboring edges of panels of an adjacent one of said plurality of leaktight hollow beams.
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- 4a - 132~73 The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood on perusal of the follow;ng de-scription of various examples of embod;ment, which is given w;th reference to the accompany;ng draw;ngs~ in which:
figure 1 is a schematic view in section of a por-tion of a vault accord;ng to the invention, composed of beams comprising four secant panels~
F;gure 2 ;s a view ;n perspective show;ng in greater detail the connection means extending the panels of a beam.
t_? Figure 3 is a v;ew in perspective shawing the con-nection af two contiguous beams.
figure 4 is a v~ew in section of a var`;ant of the sectional member connecting two contiguous beams~
Figure 5 ;s an elevation of an ent;re vault accord-ing to the invention, in sect;on in a plane parallel to the direction in wh;ch it is opened out. -figure 6 is a view in section of the entire v~ault ;n the closed conf;guration, taken on the line 6-6 in~ Fig-~
ure S.
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the ent;re vault (` shown in F;gure 6, in the open configuration.
Figure 8 ls a view in section showing on a larger scale the deta;l A in Figure 6.
F;gure 9 is a view ;n section on the line 9-9 in ~igure 8.
F;gure 10 is a view in section showing the supply duc~ common to a plurality of inflatable beams.
Figure 11 is a view in section show;ng a var;ant of the supply duct common to a plurality of inflatable beams.
Figure 1Z ;s an external half-v;ew ;n elevation and vert;cal half-sect;on on ;ts long;tudinal axis o~ a two-part v2ult incorporating a permanent r;g;d central arch.
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Figure 13 is a view in section showing on a larger scale the detail ~ in Figure 5u Figure 14 is a view of a variant of the entire vault according to the invention in section in a plane paralleL to the direction in which it is opened out.
Figure 15 is a view in perspective showing on a larger scaLe the detail C in Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a top plan view showing the arrange-ment of the storage receptacles for the vault.
Figure 17 is a view of another variant of the en-tire vault according to the invention, in section in a plane parallel to the direction in which it is opened out.
Figure 18 is a view in cross-section on the line 18~18 in Figure 17.
Figure 19 is a view in section of the unfolding track according to Figures 17 and 18.
Figure 20 is a view in cross-section of the entire inflatable vault serving as a hangar for an aircraft.
Figure 21 is a top plan view of a different arrangement of the entire inflatable vault associated with a rigid arched structure having three points of support on the ground.
Figure 1 shows schematically a form of construction of a plurality of ;nflatable beams A, B, C~.., which are joined together side by side ta form the vault according to the invention.
In this embodiment each beam A, B, C... is composed of four longitudinal panels joined at the corners to form a box girder, of which two opposite panels 1 and Z are the flanges and constitute one of the lobes of the inner wall and one of the lobes af the multilobed outer wall of the vault. The other two intermediate panels 3 and 4 are the webs of the box girder and constitute bracing ribs which transmit and balance the lobing tensions of said-flanges resulting from the action of the internal pressureof the confined space 5. These web panels 3 and 4 serve another fundamental role in this beam assembly:they ensure the leaktightness of the vault between two consecutive : : ~
~32~3 beams. The internal pressure of the confined space 5 in earh of the beams will in fact firmly apply one against - the other, over their entire surface, the web panels 3 and 4 which have been brought into contact through the joining of these contiguous beams.
Each beam A, ~, Cn~ may also be composed of two longitudinal panels whose surfaces are sequent along two longitudinal edges, or of three longitudirlal panels whose surfaces are sequent along three longitudinal edges.
As shown in Figure 2, a series of flaps 6 on each beam extends the panels 1 and 4 respectively along their longitudinal edges~ These flaps 6 are slightly spaced apart, and are for example separated by cutouts 7, it is advantageous for them to lie opposite one another, not 1S only in the case of different panels of the same beam, as shown in Figure 2, but also in the case of corresponding panels of two contiguous beams. Each of these fLaps is equipped at its free end with a boltrope, such as B~ con-sisting for example of a cylindrical rod 9 of flexible ma-terial held captive in a hem 10 formed by folding over andbonding to itself the fabric of the flap.
It can also be seen in Figure 2 how the continuity of the leaktightness of the space 5 is ensured at each corner of the beam by means of a lobed membrane, such as 11. Each membrane 11 is fixed by adhesive bonding or welding to form a lap joint inside the panels 1, 2, 3 and 4, which it joins at the longitudinal junction surfaces and constitutes a turnback in the perimeter of the envel-ope of the corresponding beam.
This arrangement is of particular interest because it permits easy connection of the consecutive elementary panels of the beam until the envelope confining the space 5 is entirely closed. All the connecting surfaces which have to be subjected to heavy pressure by means of a swan-neck press, particularly one applying heat, are ;n fact accessible from outside the beam envelope.
In the example of embodiment shown in F;gure 2 the membrane 11 and the ser;es of flaps 6 form part of one ~ , ;; , ~ 7 - 132~7~
s;ngle piece. This arrangement is not obligatory, but is particularly advantageous also from the point of v;ew of ~ simplic;ty of manufacture. The flexible band formed by the membrane 11 and the flaps 6 bordered by the boltropes S 8 can in fact be a semifinished product, produced in great lengths, without any precautions in respect of precision where its width is concerned~ The precision work which will provide the vault with its correct dimensions will consist solely in correctly positioning the boltrapes 8 in relation to the edges of the panels 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the beams. The width of the membrane 11 is in fact of little consequence because, when the space 5 is pressur-ized, the membrane wiLl be applied aga;nst the panels 1 and 4 in the position 11a and will nat be subjected to tensile stresses because care will have been taken to en-sure that its dsveloped width from one junct;on to the other ;s substant;ally greater than the corresponding dis tance measured on the flaps extending these panels Figure 3 shows a port;on of two contiguous beams, such as A and 8 in Figure 1, close to its edge where the surfaces of the panels 1 and 4 of the beam A, and 1 and 3 of the beam ~, are sequent. The four flaps 6 which corre-spond and lie opposite one another are joined by a sec-tional member 12 which has three dovetail-shaped slots 13, the first 13a of which holds captive the boltrope 8 of the flap 6 of the panel 1 of the beam A, the second 13b holds captive the boltrope 8 of the flap 6 of the panel 1 of the beam B, and the third 13c simultaneously holds captive the boltropes 8 of the flaps 6 extend;ng the two webs 3 and 4, which are thus disposed one against the other.
This arrangement ;s particularly advantageous be-cause on the one hand it permits easy connection of the beams to one another with the aid of a plurality of sec-tional members 12 of short length, which is equal at most to that of the flaps 6, said members being simply inserted one after the other simultaneously around the four bolt-ropes 8 without any difficulty, precisely because of their short length. In addition, despite this subdivision, the .
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tensile forces transmitted to the connection by the four panels which it joins together are distributed uniformly over the entire length of this connection.
Figure 4 shows a variant of the connecting section-al member for two contiguous beams, such as the beams Aand 8.
The sectional member 14 also has three longitudinal slots 14a, 14b, 14c which hold captive the boltropes 8 of the panels of each beam. Each slot ;s composed of two sequent apertures 15a and 15b having different diameters.
Each aperture 15b has a dia0eter greater than the diameter of the boltrope 8, thus enabling the sectional member 14 to be engaged over said boltropes, while each aperture 15a has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the boltrope, in order to lock the boltropes in the sectional member.
In addition, the boltropes 8 of the webs 3 and consist of boltropes having a section corresponding to half the section of the boltropes of the panels 1, so that when they are placed one against the other they have a section equal to the section of the other boltropes.
This arrangement makes it possible to have a sec-tional me~ber provided with identical slots, thus avoiding having to engage the sectional member on ~he boltropes in one determined position.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 show the assembly of a vault ac-cording to the invention, drawn in three views.
~ t can be seen that this vault comprises two parts P1 and P2, which are advantageously symmetrical and each of which is composed of a plurality of inflatable beams A~
æ, c..~ connected to one another in the manner previously indicated.
~ his vault can for example cover a football ground, and it is of interest that during fine weather it can be 35 completely opened, its two assembl;es of beams being stored flat, as shown in Figure 7, all the deflated beams being laid one above the other. On the other hand, when the weather is bad it will be possible to close the vault ,, ~ , ~-`` 132~
as shown in Figure 5, where the half-vault P1 is complete-ly closed and the half-vault P2 is in the course of being closed, not all of its beams having yet been inflated.
To enable this superimposition of deflated beams to be achieved it is necessary for all of them to have sub-stantially the same shape, that is to say at least the same chord C1 and the same rise F ~Figure 6). On the other hand, ;n most applications it is desirable for the height H (Figure 5) of the vault to be less than the haLf-width L and, if it has a circular shape in a plane parallel to the direction in which it opens out, the radius of curvature R will have its centre O at a distance D below the line 20 representing the level of the ground on which it rests. In order to achieve this geometry, it is necessary for the ends 21 of the arched beams to be equipped with support mounts, such as 22, which are mov-able members guided by guide means 23 whose curvature de-ter~;nes the unfolding path for each of the beams A, B, C... between the posit;on which it occupies when it is de-flated and stored flat and the position which ;t occupies ~hen it is inflated and erected among the other beams. It can be seen that, all the rises F of all the beams being equal, the profile of this unfolding path is a curve C2 which is deduced from the transverse shape of the vault.
Figures 8 and 9 show more accurately one of these support and retaining mounts Z2 common to two beams, for example A and 3. This mount, sandwiched between the webs 3 and 4 of said beams on which it is fixed, for example ~ith the aid of bolted flanges 24a, 24b and 25a, 25b, ex-tends below these beams to an axle 27 carrying at least two rollers 28 cooperating with the guide rails 29, which form a running track~ In conjunction with the flanges 24a and 24b and the rods 26a and 26b, the mount 22 forms an edging for the apertures 30, suchasthose provided in the webs 3 and 4 of the bea~s such as A and B.
Figure 10 shows that the series of these apertures 30 provided ;n the pairs of two connected webs 3 and 4 of the beams A, B, C~.. of the vault defines an imaginary 13~73 duct 31 in the spaces 5 confined by the envelopes of the inflatable beams A, B, C. . CommunicatiQn through an annular passage section between the spaces 5 and the duct 31 can be temporarily closed independently by each of the S annular inflatable and flattenable bladders 32.
The bladders 3Z are shown in the configuration in which, when inflated, they block this communication and isolate the spaces 5, whether the latter are empty and flat or inflated. The bladder 32a is shown flattened, thus opening com~unication bet~een the duct 31 and the space 5 and permitting either the inflation or the defla-tion of said space.
A fan, shown schematically at 33 and connected to one end of the duct 31 constitutes the main source of pressurized fluid intended for the inflation or deflation of the vault~
A secondary source of pressuri~ed fluid 34 (not sho~n) can deliver a fluid at a pressure higher than that of the main source, and is advantageously connected by means of flexible hoses such as 35, multiway valves such as 36r and internal ducts such as 37, to each of the in-flatable bladders 32.
In another embodiment the means for the temporary closure of the supply duct 31 may consist of a pair of two inflatable and flattenable annular bladders with ~hich each beam is equipped.
In yet another embodi~ent, which is illustrated in Figure 11, the means for the te~porary closure of the sup-ply duct 31 comprise, inside each inflatable beam A, B, C.~.
bet~een the apertures 30~ for one part a leaktight, flat-tenable flexible hose 4û and for another part an inflat able, flattenable seal 41 opening or closing the annular passage 42 between the duct 31 and the space 5 confined by the envelope of each beam. When unfolded, the flexible hose 40 has substantially the shape of half of a toroidal surface situated as close as possible to the centre of the torus~ the supply duct 31 being situated on the convex side of the hose and the space 5 confined in the envelope .
132~97~
of each beam being situated on the concave side of said hose. This particular shape of the duct makes ;t possible to ma;ntain the stability of its wall tensioned by the pressure, both if this ~ressure is higher in the space 5 than in the duct 31 and ;f it is higher in the duct 31 than in the space 5.
As in the case of the previous embodiment, a sec-ondary pressurized fluid source (not shown) delivers a fluid at a pressure higher than that of the main source to each of the inflatable seals 41.
In the example of embodiment illustrated ;n Figure 12 the vault is composed of two parts P1 and P2, each of which is an assembLy of flexible, inflatable elementary beams A, 8, C..., ~hich are stored in the deflated state on their bases 45a and 45b and are opened out, by infla-tion, towards one another so that on completion of the erection they bear against the walls 46a and 46b of a permanent rigid central arch 46. This arch 46 is equipped with guide and centering means, such as for example coni-caL canopies 47a and 47b, inside which the toroidal wallsof the end inflatable beams take up position~
The arch is also equipped with a plurality of se-curing means tnot shown), such as for example hooks which automatically secure and release the end inflatable beams.
Z~ This arrangement is particularly advantageous from the point of view of public safety in cases where the vault according to the invention is intended, for example, to cover an auditorium. If - as is however highly unlike-ly because of the subdivision of the vault into numerous leaktight beams separate from one another - the extreme situation should arise in which all the beams were torn and deflated, the wall assembly would in fact nevertheless remain secured to the rigid beam and there would be no risk that it could fall onto the public and-hinder the evacuation of the auditorium In addition, the vault is anchored in order to fas-ten it in relation to the ground by partially filling a beam, advantageously situated in the bottom part of the ' . . ..
- 12 _ ~329973 vault, for example with a ballasting liquid, which may simply be water.
Figure 13 illustrates another embodiment for anchor-ing to the ground a vault according to the invention, which S makes use of means similar to those enabling two contigu-ous beams to be connected together.
The web 2 of the beam, resting on the ground repre-sented by the line 20, is in fact equipped with flaps SOa and 50b, each of which is equipped with a boltrope 51a and 51b, while the flanges 3 and 4 of the beam are also equip-ped with flaps 52a and 52b, each provided with a boltrope 53a, 53b. Leaktightness at these flaps is achieved with the aid of membranes 54a and 54b. The beam is anchored with the aid of a series of sectional members 55, each of which has two slots SSa and 55b~
These sectional members 55, engaged one behind the other, will secure the whole arrangement by holding cap-tive the end boltropes 51a, 51b and 53a, 53b, and will thus enable the beam to be anchored to the ground with the aid of a plurality of threaded rods 56 advantageously sealed in a layer of concrete~
Figure 14 shows a variant of an entire vault ac-cording to the invention.
In this variant the profile of the unfolding track 60, like the profile of the sections 61 of the vault paralLel to said track, is a basket-handle arch composed of at least two circular arcs R1, R2 and R3, R4 having different radii of curvature and connected to one anotheru The vault is composed of box girders whose web panels 3 and 4 are identical and the width of whose top flange panels 1a and 1b and the respective width for the same section of their bottom flange panels 2a and 2b are in a different ratio depending on whether each of these beams is situated in a zone of said profile corresponding to one or the other of the radii of curvature R3 or R4. This ar-rangement makes it possible to produce vaults whose height is less than half their width.
In order to serve the multiple functions of '' ' `'~
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ballasting to resist the suction action of the wind, of forming a receptacle to store the walls of the deflated vault beams ;n the open position, and of forming a barrier separat;ng and protecting the vault from the public sur-rounding it or from sources of fire outside or ins;de thevault, the vault is associated with and connected to at least one prefabricated gravity structure 62 composed of identical rig;d U-shaped modular members 63 disposed side by side to form at least one substantially circular tunnel 64, of which each modular member occupies one of the sectors S (Figures 15 and 16).
The U-shaped modular members may be made of rein-forced concrete.
As can be seen in Figures 17, 18 and 19, each un-folding track may also be composed of a rigid gutter-shaped arch 70 comprising in particular Z arched tubes 71a and 71b situated in parallel planes and connected to-gether by curved brace plates 73.
Each of the end support mounts 74 of the inflatable bea~s A, ~, C... is extended by two shoes 72a and 72b pivoted on said mounts and having the shape of hooks coop-erating with the tubes 71a and 71b which they partly sur-round and on which they slide to guide the opening out of said inflatable beams of the vault, as well as serving to support and retain them when they are subjected to the action of the wind when the vault is in the closed posi-tion.
Th;s unfolding track is also associated with an in-flatable and flattenable cushion 75 bearing against the cur-ved brace plate 73 and extending over at least part of thelength of the arch 70, between the guide tubes 71a and 71b. The cushion 75 is deflated during the operation of opening out or retracting the vault and is inflated when the opening out is completed, in order on the one hand to close off the space lying between the arch and the ends of the opened out beams so as to make the vault weather-proof, and on the other hand to apply a thrust which elim-inates the operating clearance necessary for the sliding , ', , ~ , :
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of the shoes on the guide tubes, so as to avoid the rattling of the vault through the action of gusts of wind.
Figure 20 shows a vault according to the invention which is used as means of protecting movable equipment, such as for example an a;rcraft, aga;nst storms and of camouflaging such equipment, which must be able to enter and leave, possibly by its own means.
For this purpose the vault P comprises one or two parts which can be retracted, while another part can re-main in place and support the retracted parts. Theseparts are retracted by deflating and placing under reduced pressure the beams of which they are composed. It is thus possible to clear an access simultaneously at both ends of the vault, thus making it possible for example for an air-craft to move out by its own means, making use of thethrust of its jet engine.
All the inflatable beams of which the vault is com-posed, whether they are incorporated in the part remaining inflated or in the retractable parts, are connected to-gether by their common supply ducts 30a and 30b, and areconnected to a pressurized fluid generator 80, which also thermally conditions said fluid, by means of ducts 81 and 82. In this application this generator is a fluid refrig-eration unit which feeds the exchanger consisting of all the beams, advantageously providing a closed circuit flow whose path follows in succession the duct 81, the duct 30b, the beams forming multiple ducts which are all connect~d to the duct 30b as bo the duct 30a, which collects the flows of all the beams, and finally the return duct 82. This arrange-ment makes it possible to enclose the aircraft in a cold zone in order to delete the thermal signature of its jet engine after a flight or a fixed point, and to make ;t in-visible to infrared radiation sensitive detection means.
Figure 21 shows a vault according to the invention, which is composed on the one hand of a rigid part 90, which is an arched vault comprising for example three half-arches 90a, 90b, 90c disposed at 120 and jo;ned at the;r common apex 91, and on the other hand three .
~3~9~3 advantageously identical inflatable parts 9Za, 92b, 92c, each of which is composed of an assembly of the previously described inflatable beams. This rigid vault advantage~
ously rests on the ground at three support points 93a, 93b and 93c.
Based on the same principle it is thus possible to conceive ~aults comprising a plurality of half-arches, op-tionally of different dimensions, to form various archi-tectural compositions.
All these beams can be ~onnected together while de-flated and laid one on the other at ground level, with the aid of the previously described connection means, and they are opened out by successively inflating the beams.
The spaces lying between the guide tracks and the ground can advantageously be used as zones giving access to the interior of the vault.
~ n a general way the pressurized fluid supply means may consist of an axial flow fan used to inflate the beams A, ~, C..., to deflate them, to place them under negative pressure or maintain them under negative pressure by re-versing the direction of rotation.
In a variant, the pressurized fluid supply means may also consist of at least two simultaneously operating air generators, each connected to one of the supply ducts situated at the two ends of the beams A, a, c... One of these two generators blows out pressurized air to inflate and open out the beams in one part, while the other gener-ator draws out the air contained in the beams of another part of the vauLt in order to hold the waLLs of that part folded and applied one against the other through the nega-tive pressure thus generated.
Finally, the longitudinal panels of the flexible envelope of the inflatable beams A, B, C..~ may be made from a mesh or network of lightly spaced textile cords, of the order of 0.2 to 2 centimetres, adhering to at least one sheet composed of at least one layer of plas-tics material, of which at least one is impermeable to gases and at least one other is heat sealable. This sheet . . ~ , .
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provides leaktightness by filling the space left between the cords.
The advantages of the present invention result essentially from the fact that it makes it possible to produce vaults of very large dimensions which are composed of a plurality of component elements which are easily manufactured, easily transported, and easiLy assembled on the site, and which can be erected and retracted very , quickly.
The inflatable vault according to the present in-vention is applicabLe to the production of coverings for stadiums, swimming pools, tennis courts, sports halls, restaurants, auditoriums, exhibition halls or shops, vari-ous installations, leisure parks, congress halls, or storage hangars of large dimensions~
It is more particularly suitable for the protection against bad weather of places which are frequented by the public and which it is nevertheless desired to uncover in fine weather, but it may also be applied to permanently covered installations~
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A vault of this kind can be used for the temporary covering of instaLlations of large dimensions, such as stadiums with the stands intended for spectators. In this case it constitutes an enormous area of fabric, weighing from fifty to one hundred tonnes, which it is impossible to produce in the factory, transport and install as a single completely finished unit. On the other hand, if the vault is composed of a plurality of elements, it is advisable on the one hand for these elements to be com-pletely finished and tested at the factory, particularly for the purpose of checking their leaktightness~ and on the other hand for these elements to be easily and quickly assembled together, without requiring expensive site equipment.
Vaults of this type are already known which can be Z5 opened out and collapsed by simple inflation and defla-tion and in which only the space betweer, the two ~alls is pressurized, such as those described in particular in the patents FR-A-2 166 397 and FR-A-2 326 544.
The patent FR-A-2 166 397 relates to an inflatable structure comprising a series of inflatable bo%es which bear against one another when they are inflated, and which are placed between two sheets, to which they are fixed and which are tensioned by the boxes when the struc-ture is inflated. ~ecause of the design of this struc-ture, it cannot be used for constructions of large dimen-sions, which is one of the aims which the present inven-tion seeks to achieve.
The patent FR-A-2 326 544 relates to a flexible ,.
,, - 2 _ 1329~73 inflatable structure consisting of a bay whirh has at least two walls, is adapted to be opened out and to be - folded up or collapsed, and is composed of a succession of of contiguous flattenable, pressurizable chambers whose ~ 5 dividing walls brace the outer and inner walls, and where applicable the middle walls, of said bay. The numerous elements of which the vault is composed are therefore simple elementary panels of lealctight fabric, which have to be joined on the site to make continuous joints which are both resistant and leaktight over great lengths, so that very accurate manufacturing tolerances and also considerable, deLicate assembly work on the site are required, and thus there is no assurance of complete reliability of the resulting product.
Moreover, in these two documents the inflation means enabling an enormous amount of air to be blown in under light pressure between the two walls, in order to open out a vault of large dimensions within a sufficient-ly short period of time to be of practical interest~ are not described.
The present invention therefore seeks to provide a vault produced by the assembly of a plurality of entirely prefabricated inflatable beams, which have been tested at the factory, these beams being of slight mass~ easily foldable into packages able to be easily transported on lorries, and which can also be assembled on the site in the flat state on the ground ~ith primitive but reliable means which can be used quickly, even by only slightly skilled labour, and without using either lifting means or scaffolding.
The present invention also seeks to provide a vault which, although subdivided into numerous elements, incorp-orates pressurization means whose geometry is variable and which have a large section, thus permitting rapid infla-tion and opening out.
The present invention therefore has as its objectan inflatable vault which has a multilobed double wall, is adapted to be opened out and to be collapsed, and confines , 1329~73 a layer of intermural air under pressure, characterized in that it is obtained by assembling side by side a plurality of separate ;nflatable hollow beams, each of which is com-posed of a flexible envelope incorporating means ensuring S the continuity of the leaktightness of the space confined by it and comprising principally at least two longitudinal panels, whose surfaces are sequent along at least two longitudinal edges at which said panels are not only joined to one another but also joined to the homologous panels of the adjacent beams, with the aid of discontinu-ous mechanical means for rapid connection.
According to another characteristic of the inven-tion, the discontinuous mechanical means for the rapid connection of the infLatable beams to one another comprise on the one hand a series of flaps extending said panels along at least one of their longitudinal edges, each flap being equipped with a bead bordering its free end, and on the other hand a plurality of sectional members provided with at most as many longitudinal slots as there are panels to be jo;ned, said sectional members being inserted one behind the other, simultaneously from one end to the other of each of said flaps which are to be joined to-gether.
According to yet another characteristic of the in-25 vention~ the means ensuring the continuity of the leak- ~`~
t;ghtness of the space confined by the flexible envelope of said beams are leaktight membranes longitudinally con-necting together the inner faces of the two adjacent panels of each beam, on each side of their common connect-}0 ing edge.
Another object of the invention is a method of utilizing the inflatable vault, characterized in that the vault is constructed by a first operation consisting in assembling together, ~ith the aid of the rapid connection means, the panels of the plurality of deflated beams, laid flat one over the other, and by a second operation com-prising the opening out, inflation and rigidification by separately pressurizing each beam one after the other by .
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~ 4 deflating the leaktight temporary closure means which open the confined internal space to the pressurized fluid supply duct, the opening out of the vault being maintained by the inflation of the leaktight means for closing the confined internal space.
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention there is provided an inflatable vault comprising:
a collapsible cover member including a plurality of elongated inflatable arch-shaped beams connected sequentially and contiguously alony longitudinal sides thereof; two guide tracks ~isposed perpendicular to said longitudinal sides of said beams and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of said beams so as to be positioned at respectively opposing ends of said cover member; and guide means, connected to each longitudinal end of said cover member, for slidably mounting said cover member to said two guide tracks to move therealong.
In accordance with a further particular embodiment of the invention there is provided an inflatable vault comprising: a plurality of contiguous individually inflat-able leaktight hollow beams, each hollow beam including at least two longitudinal elongated panels connected together for mutually connecting the longitudinal edges of each respective pair of neighboring longitudinal edges of said panels and for connecting each said pair of neighboring edges to a corresponding pair of neighboring edges of panels of an adjacent one of said plurality of leaktight hollow beams.
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- 4a - 132~73 The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood on perusal of the follow;ng de-scription of various examples of embod;ment, which is given w;th reference to the accompany;ng draw;ngs~ in which:
figure 1 is a schematic view in section of a por-tion of a vault accord;ng to the invention, composed of beams comprising four secant panels~
F;gure 2 ;s a view ;n perspective show;ng in greater detail the connection means extending the panels of a beam.
t_? Figure 3 is a v;ew in perspective shawing the con-nection af two contiguous beams.
figure 4 is a v~ew in section of a var`;ant of the sectional member connecting two contiguous beams~
Figure 5 ;s an elevation of an ent;re vault accord-ing to the invention, in sect;on in a plane parallel to the direction in wh;ch it is opened out. -figure 6 is a view in section of the entire v~ault ;n the closed conf;guration, taken on the line 6-6 in~ Fig-~
ure S.
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the ent;re vault (` shown in F;gure 6, in the open configuration.
Figure 8 ls a view in section showing on a larger scale the deta;l A in Figure 6.
F;gure 9 is a view ;n section on the line 9-9 in ~igure 8.
F;gure 10 is a view in section showing the supply duc~ common to a plurality of inflatable beams.
Figure 11 is a view in section show;ng a var;ant of the supply duct common to a plurality of inflatable beams.
Figure 1Z ;s an external half-v;ew ;n elevation and vert;cal half-sect;on on ;ts long;tudinal axis o~ a two-part v2ult incorporating a permanent r;g;d central arch.
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Figure 13 is a view in section showing on a larger scale the detail ~ in Figure 5u Figure 14 is a view of a variant of the entire vault according to the invention in section in a plane paralleL to the direction in which it is opened out.
Figure 15 is a view in perspective showing on a larger scaLe the detail C in Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a top plan view showing the arrange-ment of the storage receptacles for the vault.
Figure 17 is a view of another variant of the en-tire vault according to the invention, in section in a plane parallel to the direction in which it is opened out.
Figure 18 is a view in cross-section on the line 18~18 in Figure 17.
Figure 19 is a view in section of the unfolding track according to Figures 17 and 18.
Figure 20 is a view in cross-section of the entire inflatable vault serving as a hangar for an aircraft.
Figure 21 is a top plan view of a different arrangement of the entire inflatable vault associated with a rigid arched structure having three points of support on the ground.
Figure 1 shows schematically a form of construction of a plurality of ;nflatable beams A, B, C~.., which are joined together side by side ta form the vault according to the invention.
In this embodiment each beam A, B, C... is composed of four longitudinal panels joined at the corners to form a box girder, of which two opposite panels 1 and Z are the flanges and constitute one of the lobes of the inner wall and one of the lobes af the multilobed outer wall of the vault. The other two intermediate panels 3 and 4 are the webs of the box girder and constitute bracing ribs which transmit and balance the lobing tensions of said-flanges resulting from the action of the internal pressureof the confined space 5. These web panels 3 and 4 serve another fundamental role in this beam assembly:they ensure the leaktightness of the vault between two consecutive : : ~
~32~3 beams. The internal pressure of the confined space 5 in earh of the beams will in fact firmly apply one against - the other, over their entire surface, the web panels 3 and 4 which have been brought into contact through the joining of these contiguous beams.
Each beam A, ~, Cn~ may also be composed of two longitudinal panels whose surfaces are sequent along two longitudinal edges, or of three longitudirlal panels whose surfaces are sequent along three longitudinal edges.
As shown in Figure 2, a series of flaps 6 on each beam extends the panels 1 and 4 respectively along their longitudinal edges~ These flaps 6 are slightly spaced apart, and are for example separated by cutouts 7, it is advantageous for them to lie opposite one another, not 1S only in the case of different panels of the same beam, as shown in Figure 2, but also in the case of corresponding panels of two contiguous beams. Each of these fLaps is equipped at its free end with a boltrope, such as B~ con-sisting for example of a cylindrical rod 9 of flexible ma-terial held captive in a hem 10 formed by folding over andbonding to itself the fabric of the flap.
It can also be seen in Figure 2 how the continuity of the leaktightness of the space 5 is ensured at each corner of the beam by means of a lobed membrane, such as 11. Each membrane 11 is fixed by adhesive bonding or welding to form a lap joint inside the panels 1, 2, 3 and 4, which it joins at the longitudinal junction surfaces and constitutes a turnback in the perimeter of the envel-ope of the corresponding beam.
This arrangement is of particular interest because it permits easy connection of the consecutive elementary panels of the beam until the envelope confining the space 5 is entirely closed. All the connecting surfaces which have to be subjected to heavy pressure by means of a swan-neck press, particularly one applying heat, are ;n fact accessible from outside the beam envelope.
In the example of embodiment shown in F;gure 2 the membrane 11 and the ser;es of flaps 6 form part of one ~ , ;; , ~ 7 - 132~7~
s;ngle piece. This arrangement is not obligatory, but is particularly advantageous also from the point of v;ew of ~ simplic;ty of manufacture. The flexible band formed by the membrane 11 and the flaps 6 bordered by the boltropes S 8 can in fact be a semifinished product, produced in great lengths, without any precautions in respect of precision where its width is concerned~ The precision work which will provide the vault with its correct dimensions will consist solely in correctly positioning the boltrapes 8 in relation to the edges of the panels 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the beams. The width of the membrane 11 is in fact of little consequence because, when the space 5 is pressur-ized, the membrane wiLl be applied aga;nst the panels 1 and 4 in the position 11a and will nat be subjected to tensile stresses because care will have been taken to en-sure that its dsveloped width from one junct;on to the other ;s substant;ally greater than the corresponding dis tance measured on the flaps extending these panels Figure 3 shows a port;on of two contiguous beams, such as A and 8 in Figure 1, close to its edge where the surfaces of the panels 1 and 4 of the beam A, and 1 and 3 of the beam ~, are sequent. The four flaps 6 which corre-spond and lie opposite one another are joined by a sec-tional member 12 which has three dovetail-shaped slots 13, the first 13a of which holds captive the boltrope 8 of the flap 6 of the panel 1 of the beam A, the second 13b holds captive the boltrope 8 of the flap 6 of the panel 1 of the beam B, and the third 13c simultaneously holds captive the boltropes 8 of the flaps 6 extend;ng the two webs 3 and 4, which are thus disposed one against the other.
This arrangement ;s particularly advantageous be-cause on the one hand it permits easy connection of the beams to one another with the aid of a plurality of sec-tional members 12 of short length, which is equal at most to that of the flaps 6, said members being simply inserted one after the other simultaneously around the four bolt-ropes 8 without any difficulty, precisely because of their short length. In addition, despite this subdivision, the .
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tensile forces transmitted to the connection by the four panels which it joins together are distributed uniformly over the entire length of this connection.
Figure 4 shows a variant of the connecting section-al member for two contiguous beams, such as the beams Aand 8.
The sectional member 14 also has three longitudinal slots 14a, 14b, 14c which hold captive the boltropes 8 of the panels of each beam. Each slot ;s composed of two sequent apertures 15a and 15b having different diameters.
Each aperture 15b has a dia0eter greater than the diameter of the boltrope 8, thus enabling the sectional member 14 to be engaged over said boltropes, while each aperture 15a has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the boltrope, in order to lock the boltropes in the sectional member.
In addition, the boltropes 8 of the webs 3 and consist of boltropes having a section corresponding to half the section of the boltropes of the panels 1, so that when they are placed one against the other they have a section equal to the section of the other boltropes.
This arrangement makes it possible to have a sec-tional me~ber provided with identical slots, thus avoiding having to engage the sectional member on ~he boltropes in one determined position.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 show the assembly of a vault ac-cording to the invention, drawn in three views.
~ t can be seen that this vault comprises two parts P1 and P2, which are advantageously symmetrical and each of which is composed of a plurality of inflatable beams A~
æ, c..~ connected to one another in the manner previously indicated.
~ his vault can for example cover a football ground, and it is of interest that during fine weather it can be 35 completely opened, its two assembl;es of beams being stored flat, as shown in Figure 7, all the deflated beams being laid one above the other. On the other hand, when the weather is bad it will be possible to close the vault ,, ~ , ~-`` 132~
as shown in Figure 5, where the half-vault P1 is complete-ly closed and the half-vault P2 is in the course of being closed, not all of its beams having yet been inflated.
To enable this superimposition of deflated beams to be achieved it is necessary for all of them to have sub-stantially the same shape, that is to say at least the same chord C1 and the same rise F ~Figure 6). On the other hand, ;n most applications it is desirable for the height H (Figure 5) of the vault to be less than the haLf-width L and, if it has a circular shape in a plane parallel to the direction in which it opens out, the radius of curvature R will have its centre O at a distance D below the line 20 representing the level of the ground on which it rests. In order to achieve this geometry, it is necessary for the ends 21 of the arched beams to be equipped with support mounts, such as 22, which are mov-able members guided by guide means 23 whose curvature de-ter~;nes the unfolding path for each of the beams A, B, C... between the posit;on which it occupies when it is de-flated and stored flat and the position which ;t occupies ~hen it is inflated and erected among the other beams. It can be seen that, all the rises F of all the beams being equal, the profile of this unfolding path is a curve C2 which is deduced from the transverse shape of the vault.
Figures 8 and 9 show more accurately one of these support and retaining mounts Z2 common to two beams, for example A and 3. This mount, sandwiched between the webs 3 and 4 of said beams on which it is fixed, for example ~ith the aid of bolted flanges 24a, 24b and 25a, 25b, ex-tends below these beams to an axle 27 carrying at least two rollers 28 cooperating with the guide rails 29, which form a running track~ In conjunction with the flanges 24a and 24b and the rods 26a and 26b, the mount 22 forms an edging for the apertures 30, suchasthose provided in the webs 3 and 4 of the bea~s such as A and B.
Figure 10 shows that the series of these apertures 30 provided ;n the pairs of two connected webs 3 and 4 of the beams A, B, C~.. of the vault defines an imaginary 13~73 duct 31 in the spaces 5 confined by the envelopes of the inflatable beams A, B, C. . CommunicatiQn through an annular passage section between the spaces 5 and the duct 31 can be temporarily closed independently by each of the S annular inflatable and flattenable bladders 32.
The bladders 3Z are shown in the configuration in which, when inflated, they block this communication and isolate the spaces 5, whether the latter are empty and flat or inflated. The bladder 32a is shown flattened, thus opening com~unication bet~een the duct 31 and the space 5 and permitting either the inflation or the defla-tion of said space.
A fan, shown schematically at 33 and connected to one end of the duct 31 constitutes the main source of pressurized fluid intended for the inflation or deflation of the vault~
A secondary source of pressuri~ed fluid 34 (not sho~n) can deliver a fluid at a pressure higher than that of the main source, and is advantageously connected by means of flexible hoses such as 35, multiway valves such as 36r and internal ducts such as 37, to each of the in-flatable bladders 32.
In another embodiment the means for the temporary closure of the supply duct 31 may consist of a pair of two inflatable and flattenable annular bladders with ~hich each beam is equipped.
In yet another embodi~ent, which is illustrated in Figure 11, the means for the te~porary closure of the sup-ply duct 31 comprise, inside each inflatable beam A, B, C.~.
bet~een the apertures 30~ for one part a leaktight, flat-tenable flexible hose 4û and for another part an inflat able, flattenable seal 41 opening or closing the annular passage 42 between the duct 31 and the space 5 confined by the envelope of each beam. When unfolded, the flexible hose 40 has substantially the shape of half of a toroidal surface situated as close as possible to the centre of the torus~ the supply duct 31 being situated on the convex side of the hose and the space 5 confined in the envelope .
132~97~
of each beam being situated on the concave side of said hose. This particular shape of the duct makes ;t possible to ma;ntain the stability of its wall tensioned by the pressure, both if this ~ressure is higher in the space 5 than in the duct 31 and ;f it is higher in the duct 31 than in the space 5.
As in the case of the previous embodiment, a sec-ondary pressurized fluid source (not shown) delivers a fluid at a pressure higher than that of the main source to each of the inflatable seals 41.
In the example of embodiment illustrated ;n Figure 12 the vault is composed of two parts P1 and P2, each of which is an assembLy of flexible, inflatable elementary beams A, 8, C..., ~hich are stored in the deflated state on their bases 45a and 45b and are opened out, by infla-tion, towards one another so that on completion of the erection they bear against the walls 46a and 46b of a permanent rigid central arch 46. This arch 46 is equipped with guide and centering means, such as for example coni-caL canopies 47a and 47b, inside which the toroidal wallsof the end inflatable beams take up position~
The arch is also equipped with a plurality of se-curing means tnot shown), such as for example hooks which automatically secure and release the end inflatable beams.
Z~ This arrangement is particularly advantageous from the point of view of public safety in cases where the vault according to the invention is intended, for example, to cover an auditorium. If - as is however highly unlike-ly because of the subdivision of the vault into numerous leaktight beams separate from one another - the extreme situation should arise in which all the beams were torn and deflated, the wall assembly would in fact nevertheless remain secured to the rigid beam and there would be no risk that it could fall onto the public and-hinder the evacuation of the auditorium In addition, the vault is anchored in order to fas-ten it in relation to the ground by partially filling a beam, advantageously situated in the bottom part of the ' . . ..
- 12 _ ~329973 vault, for example with a ballasting liquid, which may simply be water.
Figure 13 illustrates another embodiment for anchor-ing to the ground a vault according to the invention, which S makes use of means similar to those enabling two contigu-ous beams to be connected together.
The web 2 of the beam, resting on the ground repre-sented by the line 20, is in fact equipped with flaps SOa and 50b, each of which is equipped with a boltrope 51a and 51b, while the flanges 3 and 4 of the beam are also equip-ped with flaps 52a and 52b, each provided with a boltrope 53a, 53b. Leaktightness at these flaps is achieved with the aid of membranes 54a and 54b. The beam is anchored with the aid of a series of sectional members 55, each of which has two slots SSa and 55b~
These sectional members 55, engaged one behind the other, will secure the whole arrangement by holding cap-tive the end boltropes 51a, 51b and 53a, 53b, and will thus enable the beam to be anchored to the ground with the aid of a plurality of threaded rods 56 advantageously sealed in a layer of concrete~
Figure 14 shows a variant of an entire vault ac-cording to the invention.
In this variant the profile of the unfolding track 60, like the profile of the sections 61 of the vault paralLel to said track, is a basket-handle arch composed of at least two circular arcs R1, R2 and R3, R4 having different radii of curvature and connected to one anotheru The vault is composed of box girders whose web panels 3 and 4 are identical and the width of whose top flange panels 1a and 1b and the respective width for the same section of their bottom flange panels 2a and 2b are in a different ratio depending on whether each of these beams is situated in a zone of said profile corresponding to one or the other of the radii of curvature R3 or R4. This ar-rangement makes it possible to produce vaults whose height is less than half their width.
In order to serve the multiple functions of '' ' `'~
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ballasting to resist the suction action of the wind, of forming a receptacle to store the walls of the deflated vault beams ;n the open position, and of forming a barrier separat;ng and protecting the vault from the public sur-rounding it or from sources of fire outside or ins;de thevault, the vault is associated with and connected to at least one prefabricated gravity structure 62 composed of identical rig;d U-shaped modular members 63 disposed side by side to form at least one substantially circular tunnel 64, of which each modular member occupies one of the sectors S (Figures 15 and 16).
The U-shaped modular members may be made of rein-forced concrete.
As can be seen in Figures 17, 18 and 19, each un-folding track may also be composed of a rigid gutter-shaped arch 70 comprising in particular Z arched tubes 71a and 71b situated in parallel planes and connected to-gether by curved brace plates 73.
Each of the end support mounts 74 of the inflatable bea~s A, ~, C... is extended by two shoes 72a and 72b pivoted on said mounts and having the shape of hooks coop-erating with the tubes 71a and 71b which they partly sur-round and on which they slide to guide the opening out of said inflatable beams of the vault, as well as serving to support and retain them when they are subjected to the action of the wind when the vault is in the closed posi-tion.
Th;s unfolding track is also associated with an in-flatable and flattenable cushion 75 bearing against the cur-ved brace plate 73 and extending over at least part of thelength of the arch 70, between the guide tubes 71a and 71b. The cushion 75 is deflated during the operation of opening out or retracting the vault and is inflated when the opening out is completed, in order on the one hand to close off the space lying between the arch and the ends of the opened out beams so as to make the vault weather-proof, and on the other hand to apply a thrust which elim-inates the operating clearance necessary for the sliding , ', , ~ , :
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of the shoes on the guide tubes, so as to avoid the rattling of the vault through the action of gusts of wind.
Figure 20 shows a vault according to the invention which is used as means of protecting movable equipment, such as for example an a;rcraft, aga;nst storms and of camouflaging such equipment, which must be able to enter and leave, possibly by its own means.
For this purpose the vault P comprises one or two parts which can be retracted, while another part can re-main in place and support the retracted parts. Theseparts are retracted by deflating and placing under reduced pressure the beams of which they are composed. It is thus possible to clear an access simultaneously at both ends of the vault, thus making it possible for example for an air-craft to move out by its own means, making use of thethrust of its jet engine.
All the inflatable beams of which the vault is com-posed, whether they are incorporated in the part remaining inflated or in the retractable parts, are connected to-gether by their common supply ducts 30a and 30b, and areconnected to a pressurized fluid generator 80, which also thermally conditions said fluid, by means of ducts 81 and 82. In this application this generator is a fluid refrig-eration unit which feeds the exchanger consisting of all the beams, advantageously providing a closed circuit flow whose path follows in succession the duct 81, the duct 30b, the beams forming multiple ducts which are all connect~d to the duct 30b as bo the duct 30a, which collects the flows of all the beams, and finally the return duct 82. This arrange-ment makes it possible to enclose the aircraft in a cold zone in order to delete the thermal signature of its jet engine after a flight or a fixed point, and to make ;t in-visible to infrared radiation sensitive detection means.
Figure 21 shows a vault according to the invention, which is composed on the one hand of a rigid part 90, which is an arched vault comprising for example three half-arches 90a, 90b, 90c disposed at 120 and jo;ned at the;r common apex 91, and on the other hand three .
~3~9~3 advantageously identical inflatable parts 9Za, 92b, 92c, each of which is composed of an assembly of the previously described inflatable beams. This rigid vault advantage~
ously rests on the ground at three support points 93a, 93b and 93c.
Based on the same principle it is thus possible to conceive ~aults comprising a plurality of half-arches, op-tionally of different dimensions, to form various archi-tectural compositions.
All these beams can be ~onnected together while de-flated and laid one on the other at ground level, with the aid of the previously described connection means, and they are opened out by successively inflating the beams.
The spaces lying between the guide tracks and the ground can advantageously be used as zones giving access to the interior of the vault.
~ n a general way the pressurized fluid supply means may consist of an axial flow fan used to inflate the beams A, ~, C..., to deflate them, to place them under negative pressure or maintain them under negative pressure by re-versing the direction of rotation.
In a variant, the pressurized fluid supply means may also consist of at least two simultaneously operating air generators, each connected to one of the supply ducts situated at the two ends of the beams A, a, c... One of these two generators blows out pressurized air to inflate and open out the beams in one part, while the other gener-ator draws out the air contained in the beams of another part of the vauLt in order to hold the waLLs of that part folded and applied one against the other through the nega-tive pressure thus generated.
Finally, the longitudinal panels of the flexible envelope of the inflatable beams A, B, C..~ may be made from a mesh or network of lightly spaced textile cords, of the order of 0.2 to 2 centimetres, adhering to at least one sheet composed of at least one layer of plas-tics material, of which at least one is impermeable to gases and at least one other is heat sealable. This sheet . . ~ , .
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provides leaktightness by filling the space left between the cords.
The advantages of the present invention result essentially from the fact that it makes it possible to produce vaults of very large dimensions which are composed of a plurality of component elements which are easily manufactured, easily transported, and easiLy assembled on the site, and which can be erected and retracted very , quickly.
The inflatable vault according to the present in-vention is applicabLe to the production of coverings for stadiums, swimming pools, tennis courts, sports halls, restaurants, auditoriums, exhibition halls or shops, vari-ous installations, leisure parks, congress halls, or storage hangars of large dimensions~
It is more particularly suitable for the protection against bad weather of places which are frequented by the public and which it is nevertheless desired to uncover in fine weather, but it may also be applied to permanently covered installations~
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Claims (25)
1. An inflatable vault comprising:
a plurality of contiguous individually inflatable leaktight hollow beams, each hollow beam including at least two longitudinal elongated panels connected together along neighboring longitudinal edges thereof in a sequential manner, and a longitudinally elongated flexible membrane connected in a leaktight manner between each pair of said neighboring edges of said panels; and quick-connect means for mutually connecting the longitudinal edges of each respective pair of neighboring longitudinal edges of said panels and for connecting each said pair of neighboring edges to a corresponding pair of neighboring edges of panels of an adjacent one of said plurality of leaktight hollow beams.
a plurality of contiguous individually inflatable leaktight hollow beams, each hollow beam including at least two longitudinal elongated panels connected together along neighboring longitudinal edges thereof in a sequential manner, and a longitudinally elongated flexible membrane connected in a leaktight manner between each pair of said neighboring edges of said panels; and quick-connect means for mutually connecting the longitudinal edges of each respective pair of neighboring longitudinal edges of said panels and for connecting each said pair of neighboring edges to a corresponding pair of neighboring edges of panels of an adjacent one of said plurality of leaktight hollow beams.
2. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 1, wherein said quick-connect means comprises:
a longitudinally elongated flap extending from each of said longitudinal edges of each of said panels and having a free end, each of said flaps having a longitudinally elongated bead connected along said free end; and a plurality of elongated female connectors, each female connector having a plurality of longitudinally elongated slots for receiving and retaining said elongated beads therein.
a longitudinally elongated flap extending from each of said longitudinal edges of each of said panels and having a free end, each of said flaps having a longitudinally elongated bead connected along said free end; and a plurality of elongated female connectors, each female connector having a plurality of longitudinally elongated slots for receiving and retaining said elongated beads therein.
3. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said flaps comprises a plurality of flap sections arranged along one of said longitudinal edges of one of said panels; and each of said plurality of female connectors comprises a plurality of female connector sections, each of a length which is equal to or shorter than the length of each of said flap sections.
4. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 2, wherein each elongated slot of each of said female connectors includes a first longitudinally elongated cylindrical void having a first diameter which is greater than a diameter of each of said beads, and a second longitudinally elongated void located adjacent to and radially outwardly of said first void and having a diameter slightly less than that of each of said beads.
5. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said flexible membranes is connected between each said pair of said neighboring edges of said panels by being connected to respective inside surfaces of said panels adjacent each of said longitudinal edges of each of said pairs of neighboring longitudinal edges.
6. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 5, wherein each of said loops is formed of a unitary leaktight member.
7. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 5, wherein each of said flexible membranes is connected to inside surfaces of an adjacent pair of said panels in such a way as to form a loop, which when collapsed along an inside surface of a respective beam, has a width dimension which is substan-tially greater than a distance measured between a correspond-ing pair of said neighboring edges of said panels when said neighboring edges are mutually connected by said quick-connect means.
8. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least two longitudinally elongated panels comprises four longitudinally elongated panels which form a box girder and include an outer panel, an inner panel and first and second web panels, said outer and inner panels of said plurality of beams together forming respective inner and outer walls of said vault and said first and second web panels forming respective bracing ribs for each beam which provide structural support and ensure leaktightness of each individual beam.
9. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 8, further comprising:
a pair of fixed elongated guide tracks; and guide means, connected respectively to said first and second web panels of each longitudinal end of respec-tively adjacent beams, for slidably mounting said beams to said guide tracks for movement therealong.
a pair of fixed elongated guide tracks; and guide means, connected respectively to said first and second web panels of each longitudinal end of respec-tively adjacent beams, for slidably mounting said beams to said guide tracks for movement therealong.
10. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said beams, when inflated, extends upwardly and inwardly from each of its longitudinal ends so as to form an arch, each of said arched beams having substantially equal chord lengths and substantially equal rise lengths.
11. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 9, wherein when all of said beams are inflated, the vault has a cross-sectional shape along a plane perpendicular to said beams which corresponds to a shape of each of said guide tracks.
12. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 11, wherein said cross-sectional shape of the vault is a basket-handle arch shape formed by a first arc having a first radius and a second arc having a second radius greater than said first radius; and each beam disposed along said first arc has a ratio between widths of its outer and inner panels which is different than a ratio between widths of outer and inner panels of beams disposed along said second arc.
13. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said guide tracks comprises at least one arch-shaped tubular member with at least one guide surface; and said guide means comprises at least one support mount connected to said first and second web panels of said beams and at least one guide shoe connected to said support mount and slidable on said at least one guide surface of said at least one arch-shaped tubular member.
14. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 13, further comprising:
an inflatable cushion disposed between at least one of said guide tracks and said at least one support mount.
an inflatable cushion disposed between at least one of said guide tracks and said at least one support mount.
15. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said first and second web panels of each of said beams includes an aperture therethrough to provide for passage through said beams of a pressurizing fluid.
16. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 15, further comprising:
a source of pressurizing fluid including two air generators, a first of said air generators being connected to a beam of said plurality of beams which is located at a first end of said vault and a second of said air generators being connected to a beam of said plurality of beams which is located at a second end of said vault opposite said first end of said vault, such that one of said first and second air generators can provide pressurized air for inflating a first set of said beams and the other of said first and second air generators can remove pressurized air from a second set of said beams.
a source of pressurizing fluid including two air generators, a first of said air generators being connected to a beam of said plurality of beams which is located at a first end of said vault and a second of said air generators being connected to a beam of said plurality of beams which is located at a second end of said vault opposite said first end of said vault, such that one of said first and second air generators can provide pressurized air for inflating a first set of said beams and the other of said first and second air generators can remove pressurized air from a second set of said beams.
17. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 15, further comprising:
a source of pressurizing fluid including an axial flow fan means for providing pressurizing fluid to said beams so as to cause inflation thereof when rotated in one direction and for removing said pressurizing fluid from said beams so as to cause deflation thereof when rotated in a direction opposite said one direction.
a source of pressurizing fluid including an axial flow fan means for providing pressurizing fluid to said beams so as to cause inflation thereof when rotated in one direction and for removing said pressurizing fluid from said beams so as to cause deflation thereof when rotated in a direction opposite said one direction.
18. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 15, further comprising:
temporary passageway forming means for selectively forming a single supply duct, through said apertures formed through said side panels, which is fluidically separated from a remainder of the space within said beams.
temporary passageway forming means for selectively forming a single supply duct, through said apertures formed through said side panels, which is fluidically separated from a remainder of the space within said beams.
19. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 18, wherein said temporary passageway forming means comprises a plurality of inflatable annular bladders, each of which is disposed within one of said beams and about an imaginary cylinder defined between said apertures formed in said first and second web panels, each of said annular bladders being independently inflatable.
20. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 18, wherein said temporary passageway forming meams comprises:
a leaktight, flattenable flexible hose within each beam extending between the apertures in said first and second web panels;
an annular passage in each of said beams between said flexible hose and a remainder of the space within each respective one of said beams; and an annular inflatable bladder disposed in each of said annular passages, said annular bladders being indepen-dently inflatable.
a leaktight, flattenable flexible hose within each beam extending between the apertures in said first and second web panels;
an annular passage in each of said beams between said flexible hose and a remainder of the space within each respective one of said beams; and an annular inflatable bladder disposed in each of said annular passages, said annular bladders being indepen-dently inflatable.
21 21. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said beams forms a fluid flow duct through which fluid can flow from one longitudinal end to another, and fluid flow generating means is provided for generat-ing a flow of fluid through said fluid flow ducts and for controlling the pressure, temperature, and humidity of said flow of fluid, such that said fluid flow ducts and said fluid flow generating means form a heat exchanger.
22. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
anchor means, comprising a plurality of quick-connect type sectional connectors, for anchoring said plurality of inflatable beams to the ground by connecting together and to the ground at least two panels of at least one of said beams which is adjacent the ground.
anchor means, comprising a plurality of quick-connect type sectional connectors, for anchoring said plurality of inflatable beams to the ground by connecting together and to the ground at least two panels of at least one of said beams which is adjacent the ground.
23. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
anchor means, comprising ballasting liquid disposed in at least one of said beams, for anchoring said plurality of beams to the ground.
anchor means, comprising ballasting liquid disposed in at least one of said beams, for anchoring said plurality of beams to the ground.
24. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
anchor means, comprising an annular trough formed of a plurality of rigid U-shaped trough sections connected to at least one of said plurality of beams, for anchoring said plurality of beams to the ground and for protecting beams adjacent the ground against damage.
anchor means, comprising an annular trough formed of a plurality of rigid U-shaped trough sections connected to at least one of said plurality of beams, for anchoring said plurality of beams to the ground and for protecting beams adjacent the ground against damage.
25. An inflatable vault as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said panels of said plurality of beams comprises at least one layer of leaktight plastic material, at least one layer of heat sealable plastic material, and a layer of textile cables adhered to at lest one of said layers of plastic material.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR8714259A FR2621944A1 (en) | 1987-10-15 | 1987-10-15 | INFLATABLE DOUBLE WALL WITH POLYLOBEE |
| FR8714259 | 1987-10-15 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1329973C true CA1329973C (en) | 1994-06-07 |
Family
ID=9355858
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000580006A Expired - Fee Related CA1329973C (en) | 1987-10-15 | 1988-10-13 | Inflatable vault having a multilobed double wall |
Country Status (12)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4976074A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0312429B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2638140B2 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1028254C (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE90766T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU618967B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1329973C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3881818T2 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2042788T3 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2621944A1 (en) |
| NO (1) | NO173289C (en) |
| RU (1) | RU2076191C1 (en) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8955258B2 (en) | 2010-09-10 | 2015-02-17 | Imax Corporation | Transportable immersive motion picture display structures |
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| FR2676767B1 (en) * | 1991-05-22 | 1993-09-24 | Spironef | INFLATABLE VOUTE. |
| FR2677394B1 (en) * | 1991-06-04 | 1993-09-24 | Spironef Ind | INFLATABLE, DEPLOYABLE AND RETRACTABLE. |
| FR2684408B1 (en) * | 1991-11-29 | 1996-09-27 | Spironef Ind | INFLATABLE VOUTE. |
| DE4413722A1 (en) * | 1994-04-20 | 1995-10-26 | Braun Aristides | Circular over=arching roof structure for large surface areas |
| FR2734856B1 (en) * | 1995-05-31 | 1997-07-25 | Spironef Societe Civile | DEPLOYABLE AND RETRACTABLE INFLATABLE VOUTE |
| FR2761707B1 (en) * | 1997-04-02 | 1999-06-04 | Scebep Spironef | INFLATABLE, DEPLOYABLE AND RETRACTABLE |
| GB2324973B (en) * | 1997-05-07 | 1999-03-24 | Playaway Play Systems Ltd | Internally mounted inflation system |
| FR2772814B1 (en) * | 1997-12-24 | 2000-03-10 | Scebep Spironef | INFLATABLE, DEPLOYABLE AND RETRACTABLE |
| AU771085B2 (en) * | 1998-09-25 | 2004-03-11 | Ian Gerard Nagle | An inflatable work shelter |
| US7162836B2 (en) * | 2003-01-15 | 2007-01-16 | Greenhouse International,Llc | Temporary structure |
| AT502729B1 (en) * | 2004-05-13 | 2008-10-15 | Ernst Leitner | PNEUMATIC WALL / ROOF CONSTRUCTION |
| JP5175727B2 (en) * | 2005-07-29 | 2013-04-03 | ザ エルメナティ，エルエルシー | Double pressure inflatable structure and method |
| US7987863B2 (en) * | 2005-09-21 | 2011-08-02 | Tentnology Limited | Modular pole tent and joining means |
| CH704442B1 (en) * | 2005-12-23 | 2012-08-15 | Prospective Concepts Ag | Pneumatic component. |
| CA2634501C (en) * | 2005-12-23 | 2014-09-02 | Prospective Concepts Ag | Pneumatic structural element and roof produced therefrom |
| US8572911B1 (en) * | 2006-02-13 | 2013-11-05 | University Of Akron Research Foundation | Inflatable structure with internal support |
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| CN103206102A (en) * | 2013-03-08 | 2013-07-17 | 王中好 | Angle component connection structure of telescopic garage |
| RU2531778C1 (en) * | 2013-05-07 | 2014-10-27 | Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Тихоокеанский государственный университет" | Inflatable floating support for retention of floating cable |
| CN104110156B (en) * | 2014-06-30 | 2016-01-27 | 铱格斯曼航空科技集团有限公司 | A kind of gas rib being applicable to large-scale air filling type ship/hangar |
| CH711896A2 (en) * | 2015-12-10 | 2017-06-15 | Texlon Hsp Gmbh | Foundation for air-inflated hall. |
| KR20190009281A (en) | 2016-03-20 | 2019-01-28 | 에이월 아웃도어스 인코포레이티드 | Partial or fully retractable mobile enclosure |
| US10590662B2 (en) | 2016-09-06 | 2020-03-17 | Jim Peterson | Deck drainage systems |
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| EP3635201A4 (en) | 2017-05-08 | 2021-01-27 | McGregor, Shawn | Folding enclosure |
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-
1987
- 1987-10-15 FR FR8714259A patent/FR2621944A1/en active Pending
-
1988
- 1988-09-29 US US07/251,088 patent/US4976074A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-10-06 EP EP88402535A patent/EP0312429B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-10-06 ES ES88402535T patent/ES2042788T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-10-06 DE DE88402535T patent/DE3881818T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-10-06 AT AT88402535T patent/ATE90766T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-10-11 AU AU23655/88A patent/AU618967B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1988-10-12 NO NO884541A patent/NO173289C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-10-13 CA CA000580006A patent/CA1329973C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-10-14 RU SU884356617A patent/RU2076191C1/en active
- 1988-10-14 CN CN88107084A patent/CN1028254C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-10-14 JP JP63259248A patent/JP2638140B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8955258B2 (en) | 2010-09-10 | 2015-02-17 | Imax Corporation | Transportable immersive motion picture display structures |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| NO173289B (en) | 1993-08-16 |
| JPH01230874A (en) | 1989-09-14 |
| US4976074A (en) | 1990-12-11 |
| AU618967B2 (en) | 1992-01-16 |
| DE3881818T2 (en) | 1994-01-20 |
| EP0312429A1 (en) | 1989-04-19 |
| CN1032833A (en) | 1989-05-10 |
| NO884541L (en) | 1989-04-17 |
| NO173289C (en) | 1993-11-24 |
| DE3881818D1 (en) | 1993-07-22 |
| EP0312429B1 (en) | 1993-06-16 |
| CN1028254C (en) | 1995-04-19 |
| AU2365588A (en) | 1989-04-20 |
| ES2042788T3 (en) | 1993-12-16 |
| ATE90766T1 (en) | 1993-07-15 |
| JP2638140B2 (en) | 1997-08-06 |
| RU2076191C1 (en) | 1997-03-27 |
| FR2621944A1 (en) | 1989-04-21 |
| NO884541D0 (en) | 1988-10-12 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKLA | Lapsed |